Ampliodactylus, Smith, 2008

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2008, South American Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) classification and nomenclature: some problems and solutions, Insecta Mundi 2008 (60), pp. 1-28 : 9

Genus Ampliodactylus new genus

Type species. Macrodactylus marmoratus Curtis , here designated.

Description (Figs. 5-6). Length 7.1-10.3 mm. Dorsal surface unicolored with uneven setal pattern. Head: clypeus parabolic. Mentum much longer than wide, with weak longitudinal trough. Antennae with 9 antennomeres. Pronotum: widest medially, width greater than length. Legs: protibia with two apical teeth on outer margin, without series of small teeth medially and basally. Claws symmetrical, each side split subapically. Protibial spurs absent. Metatibial spurs absent in males, females have 2 metatibial spurs. Male genitalia: parameres simple, not curved or split (Fig. 7).

Etymology. Ampliodactylus is formed to indicate the similarity of this genus to species in the genus Macrodactylus . “ Amplio ” is Latin for “to enlarge, increase, magnify” in reference to numerous genera in the tribe Macrodactylini . The name is masculine in gender.

Remark. For at least the last century, the species in this genus were placed in the genus Schizochelus . However, thorough examination of the type species of Schizochelus by Katovich (2008) made it possible to determine that none of the southern South American species currently placed in this genus were correctly classified.